Tips to help you prepare for divorce before you file

On behalf of Sheehan & Associates, P.L.C. posted in family law on Friday, November 30, 2018.

The start of the year is a time when people tend to evaluate their life choices. If you are currently in an unhappy marriage, you might decide that you are ready to call it quits. Many people don't want to take this step at the holidays, especially if they have children so they might wait until after the first of the year. Preparing for this step is a good idea if you are going to file for divorce soon.

There are several aspects of life that are affected by the end of your marriage. You need to think about each one so that you can decide how you are going to handle it.

Finances: Your finances are going to change drastically with the divorce. You will have to pay your bills from your own income. Plus, you will have added expenses from having to file for divorce. A woman faces an average of a 73-percent loss in standard of living when she gets divorced. Setting a budget now might help you to keep your finances on track.

Living arrangements: You need to determine who is going to move out of the home. If the answer is you, now is the time to start looking for a place. At a minimum, you need to figure out how much money you are going to need to get this done. In some cases, you might be able to arrange to live with a family member or friend for a bit.

Financial documents: The property division process requires you to split up all the assets and debts from the marriage. Having your financial documents enables you to have an accurate account of what's what. If you can't keep the originals, try to get copies of everything.

The children: Make plans for the children. They will have a period of adjustment when you share the news with them. You also need to think about child custody arrangements.

Ultimately, you need to protect your own interests at this point. Knowing what to expect during the divorce process might help you to feel more secure and to adequately prepare.

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